Megaworld donates P60M to build COVID-19 test labs

Andrew Tan and family

Property tycoon-led Megaworld Corp. has donated P60 million to build four COVID-19 testing laboratories for Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in Metro Manila, augmenting the country’s capacity to address the pandemic that has paralyzed the whole of Luzon for six weeks now.

Each test laboratory has two reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines, one RNA (ribonucleic acid) machine that speeds up the test capability of the laboratory, a medical lab freezer, and a bio-safety cabinet that protects samples from contamination.

“This will further strengthen our government’s efforts in detecting COVID-19 cases so we can really get to focus on them and prevent more people from being infected. The Philippine Red Cross has the experience and capability to operate these testing laboratories, and we are confident that this project can greatly help in having more people tested fast,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Andrew Tan said in a press statement on Tuesday.

The new testing laboratories are capable of conducting around 10,000 COVID-19 tests every day. Results of each test sample may be released within three hours.

“We continue to look for more projects and partnerships like this so we can further help government in saving lives and beat the virus,” added Tan.

Megaworld and its subsidiaries have also been distributing food and grocery bags to healthcare centers and border security frontliners around Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Citylink buses have been deployed to provide free transport to medical personnel to and from hospitals in Metro Manila.

Its socio-civic arm, Megaworld Foundation, also distributed face mask to various foundations to protect the elderly and orphan beneficiaries.

Megaworld Hotels distributed shower caps, toiletries like soaps and shampoo, as well as personal protective equipment (PPEs) to various hospitals and local government units around the country.